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METRO AREA

Grand Island Metro

Grand Island, NE · 3 counties · 78,076 residents (2025 est.) · 1,603.59 sq mi
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The short version

Grand Island has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $69,800. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $218,383. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 51%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
76,794
+12%since 2000
from 68,305 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
48 / sq mi
+12%since 2000
from 43 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.3
+3%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:78,076 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
62K66K70K74K78K1990201020202024Grand Island
202477K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$69,800
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,378 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,933
+111%since 2000
from $17,037 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.1%
+23.4 ptssince 2009
from 22.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.451
+11%since 2010
from 0.408 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$218,383
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,425 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$909
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $444 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.4%
−2.6 ptssince 2000
from 68.0% in 2000
34.6% rent
Vacancy rate
5.4%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.1%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 35.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+43%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
63
RELATED:See current rent listings in Grand Island on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.7%(59,229)
Black0.3%(195)
Hispanic / Latino11.3%(7,731)
Asian0.9%(591)
Other0%
Diversity Score27.8%(19,000)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic66.1%(50,781)
Black2.7%(2,105)
Hispanic / Latino27.3%(20,936)
Asian0.9%(666)
Other3%(2,306)
Diversity Score60.8%(46,718)
Segregation Score41.3%(31,716)
Diversity Score
61
+119%since 2000
from 28 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
41
+1%since 2020
from 41 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.6%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 15.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.7%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 83.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.8%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.7 min
+63%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 79.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 5.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.8%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 72.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.8%
−26.5 ptssince 2009
from 59.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
48.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
14.1%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.9%
−43.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2012
from 11.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.6%
−74.1 ptssince 2013
from 85.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.4%
+15.0 ptssince 2017
from 74.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
76.9%
−4.9 ptssince 2016
from 81.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
20.7%
+5.1 ptssince 2016
from 15.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Grand IslandCENTRAL53,943
What's inside

3 component counties

Hall CountyCENTRAL63,633Merrick County7,905Howard County6,538
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Grand Island

Frankfort
Pop 77,874
Hobbs
Pop 74,749
Casper
Pop 80,526
Auburn
Pop 74,365
Places similar to Grand Island
Head to head

Compare Grand Island side by side

GRAND ISLAND VS
Frankfort
Income$68,235−2%
Home value$219,317same
Population77,874same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRAND ISLAND VS
Hobbs
Income$68,015−3%
Home value$184,000−16%
Population74,749−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRAND ISLAND VS
Casper
Income$72,156+3%
Home value$273,000+25%
Population80,526+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRAND ISLAND VS
Auburn
Income$67,904−3%
Home value$171,000−22%
Population74,365−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Grand Island, NE?

Grand Island, NE has about 76,794 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Grand Island, NE?

The typical household in Grand Island, NE earns about $69,800 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Grand Island, NE expensive?

In Grand Island, NE, the median home is worth about $218,383, and the typical rent is about $909 a month.

How educated are people in Grand Island, NE?

About 21.6% of adults age 25 and over in Grand Island, NE hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Grand Island, NE?

About 12.7% of people in Grand Island, NE live below the federal poverty line.

Has Grand Island, NE grown since 1990?

Yes, Grand Island, NE has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,772 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →